Original Paper

An in vivo Investigation on the Wound-Healing Effect of Two Medicinal Herbs Using an Animal Model with Foot Ulcer
T.W. Lau^a, D.S. Sahota^b, C.H. Lau^a, C.M. Chan^c, F.C. Lam^a, Y.Y. Ho^c, K.P. Fung^{a, c}, C.B.S. Lau^d, P.C. Leung<sup>a

a</sup>Institute of Chinese Medicine,
^bDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
^cDepartment of Biochemistry, and
^dSchool of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Surg Res 2008;41:15-23 (DOI: 10.1159/000122834)

  Key Words

• Diabetes mellitus
• Foot ulcers
• Radix Astragali
• Radix Rehmanniae
• Chinese medicine, wound healing
• Foot ulcer animal model
• Wound measurement

  Abstract

Background/Aim: Over 190 million people in the world suffer from diabetes mellitus. Diabetics are 25 times more likely to have a leg amputated because of unhealing foot ulcers. Herbal medicine has been used in China to salvage the ulcerated limb. With the aim to study the efficacy of two commonly used herbs for ulcer healing, namely Radix Astragali and Radix Rehmanniae, a good animal model needs to be developed for a proper in vivo investigation. Methods: Firstly, a diabetic animal model was established by streptozotocin injection. Then standard wounds were created on the feet of the diabetic rats. Digital photographs were taken and analyzed by a novel image analysis software. Results: The average ulcer area in the Radix Rehmanniae treatment group was 11.45 mm², which was significantly smaller than the 15.12 mm² in the water treatment group (p = 0.04). Radix Astragali, on the other hand, was found to have no significant effect on ulcer shrinkage. Conclusion: Further investigation is needed for the identification of the active principles of Radix Rehmanniae.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Ping-Chung Leung
Director, Institute of Chinese Medicine
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT
Hong Kong, SAR (China)
Tel. +852 2252 8868, Fax +852 2632 5441, E-Mail pingcleung@cuhk.edu.hk

  Article Information

Received: April 18, 2007
Accepted after revision: September 25, 2007
Published online: April 2, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 48